Indian Harmoniums are a variation of European harmoniums taken over there during the days of Empire. Proving this fact is this French Harmonium from the 1890s located in India itself. Unlike Indian harmoniums this one has foot controlled bellows but the actual keyboard looks like a modern Indian one. What I really like about this one is that it packs up into its own wooden case. Perfect for the travelling missionary that this probably belonged to.

Now this is a nostalgia trip for me - it’s a chord organ made by Rosedale. My sister had one of this which I loved playing on. It is on one of these then that my love of music started - back in the 1970s.My sister’s was green though, not brown. I wonder if she has still got it…